<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000862599
<NAME> THE LATIN AMERICA INVESTMENT FUND, INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 97380378
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 111979898
<RECEIVABLES> 1911338
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1113132
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 8130
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 115012498
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1371054
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 685828
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2056882
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 112899716
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6250239
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6587139
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1672490
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (16205853)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 14589263
<NET-ASSETS> 112955616
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 701083
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2200251
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1228844
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1672490
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 9008818
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (8749765)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1931543
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 336900
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (2628629)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (25214671)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 688978
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1295559
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 111802657
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.55
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.26
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 18.07
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.21
</TABLE>
